Connecting plug



Oct. 9, 1928. 1,687,167

' R. M. MANN CONNECTING PLUG Filed March 18, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WALM A TTORNE Y Oct. 9, 1928. 1,687,167

R. M. MANN CONNECTING PLUG Filed Maroh,18. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' INVENTOI? ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 9, 1928.

[UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

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Application m March 1a, 1926. Serial m. 95,588.

This invention relates to connecting plugs for electric lamp consumption circuits and has for its object to simpliig and cheapen such devices. A particular eld for which this invention is adapted is for Christmas tree decorative .lightin outfits wherein itv is desired to have bla e contacts at one end for insertion into a standard socket lug, and at the other end one or more pairs 0 leading out wiresv for one or more strings of lights, the latter being connected in series or multiple on each strin according to well known practice. .Another 0 ject of the invention is to provide a thermostatic flashing switch in such device for flashing the set; and in case of several sets of lights supplied from one plug, to flash all or one or more of the sets, as may be desired. A further object is to provide a simple and compact construction of relatively few parts, which can be manufactured in quantity and supplied disassembled to manufacturers of tree lighting outfits who simply have to connect the supply wires and assemble. By the I construction herein disclosed, a further advantage is obtained of providing a plug for one or more consumption circuits ada ted to co-operate with standard plu blades, m case it is not desired to connect t e consumption wires and lamp sockets to the plug before beso ing sold. 1

The invention is illustrated in the accom panying drawings wherein- .Figure 1 is a section of a plug embodying the. invention arranged for a single circuit; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fi 1 Fig. 3 is an interior elevation of one o the body halves;

Fig. 4- is an end view seen from the right of Fig.1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective viewof the flashing switch and blade member;

Fig. 6 is a detail ofone of the contacts;

Fi 7 is a view-similar to Fig. 1 with the flashing switch omitted;

Fig. 8 is a view pf a modified flashing switch for supplying three outside consumption circuits; Fig. 9 is a detail of a three arm contact therefor;

Fig. 1 0 is a perspective view showing a single plug for supplying three circuits;

Fig. 11 is a section thereof;

Fig. 12 is a section on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the flashing and blade member; and

Fig. 14 is a detail of one of the contacts.

The body comprises two halves 1, 1 of insulating material which are held together by a screw 2. Each body contains two enlarged slots 3 with. smaller, deeper portions 4 to receive arms 5 on the contact members inserted in the slots, these deeper slots being to hold the contact'members in place and prevent displacement in either way. At one end of the body are blade slots 7 through which the contact blades 8 pass and at the other end are larger. slots 9 through which the blades of the plug pass and make contact with the doubled over s rin contacts 10, thus providing for both sid s o the circuit. As shown in Figs. 1, 3, 7, 11, the slots 3 merge into a larger chamber 13 receiving the flasher member.

In Figs. 1 to 5 one side of the circuit consists of a plain member 8 held by arms-5 in the slots 4 of the two halves, with the contact finger 10 in slot 9 at the other'end; and the other side consists of similar contact finger 10 in slot 9 at one end with co-operating blade 8 at the other end with interposed thermastatic flasher member 15 in the chamber 13.

The flasher member 15 is fastened to blade 8 by rivet-16 adjacent arms 5 with insulating disc and bushing 17 interposed. The member'15 is a bi-metallic bar having heating coil Y 18 thereon withone end connected to contact 19 and the other end to bar 8 under insulation 17, in the well known manner. Cooperating with contact 19 is contact 20 on bar'8. The connection is'such that if contacts 19, 20 open, the heating coil '18 is in series between blade 8 and contact 10 so that the heat causes bimetallic bar 15 to bend towards blade 8 and close contacts 19, 20 to short circuit heater 18," thereby li hting the lights. The heater cools and the i-metallic bar opens the contacts.

In Fig. -7 both blade members are alike with 'theflashin'g switch omitted, thereby forming an ordinary connecting plug of high utility and simple construction, especially for quantity manufacturing inasmuch as the body and conducting parts are standardized and enable receive the lateral arms are in substance continuations of the slots l in Figs; 1, 2 and 3,

- so that the lateral arms in the multiple type not only supply the additional circuits, but also position the conducting members against displacement. This form can be built without the fiasheras well as Fig. 7, but it is preferred to embody the flasher therein inasmuch as it is possible by simple change in the connections of the lateral fingers 26 to flash all three circuits at once, or only one, or only two, depending on whether or not the fingers are directly connected to blade 8 or to bi-metallic bar 15 at rivet 16. If the fingers are all connected to bar 15 and the heating coil between contact 19 and to blade 8, that is, with insulation 17 under bi-metallic bar 15, all sin memberinserted and interlocked in said slots I and projecting in parallelrelation at one end'to fit plug slots, and having spring con cuits flash on and 0d at the same time. if, for example, the lateral fingers 26 are connected to blade 8 by being under the insulation 17, and the end finger 10 with bi-metallic bar 15 by being over insulation N, the end circuit flashes and the lateral circuits do not, thus leaving considerable choice for the user as to how many circuits to flash.

When sold with the light strings, the ends of the strings are slipped under fingers 10 and soldered, before assembly.

It will be seen that this invention provides a fiasher and plug construction of simple, cheap, and standard parts and capable of being readily modified without expensive re construction. Various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A connecting plug comprising co-open ating chambered body portions recessed to form pairs of end slots, securing means, a contact blade member inserted in each of said slots and projecting in parallel relation at one end to fit plug slots, and having spring contacts at the other end within the slots to receive lug blades, one of said blade mem bers inc uding a thermostatic switch within the chamber.

2. A connecting plug comprising like chambered body portions recessed to form pairs of end slots and having flattened faces to fit together, securing means, a contact blade tacts at the othenend within said slots to receive plug blades, one of said blade mem- I bers including a thermostatic switch within the chamber.

3. A connecting plug comprising like chambered body portions recessed to form pairs of end slots and having flattened faces to fit together, securing means, a contact blade member inserted and interlocked insaid slots and projecting in parallel relation atone end to fit plug slots, and having plural spring contacts at the other end within plural sets of slots to receive the blades of. a plurality of plugs, one of said blade members including a thermostatic switch within the chamber.

4. A thermostatic member for a plurality of circuits comprising a substantially straight blade, a thermostatic bar secured thereto to closely overlie and co-operate therewith, and a plurality of diverging plug finger contacts connected to the blade,.said contacts lyin substantially in the plane of the blade an the thermostatic bar.

5. A thermostatic member comprising a substantially straight blade having a spring finger at one end and a plug blade at the other, a thermostatic bi-metallic bar mounted on said blade to closely overlie said blade and having an end contact cooperating with the bar, insulation between the blade and the bar, and a heater on said bar and connected at one end thereto and at the other end to the blade.

6. A connector comprising a substantially straight blade adapted at one end to act as a plug blade, a spring finger at the other end to contact with plug blades, a bi-metallic thermostatic bar insulatingly connected at one end to the blade and adapted closely to overlie the same cooperating contacts on the bar and blade and a heater coil on the bar connected at one end to the bar and at the other end to the blade.

'2'. A connector comprising a chambered body portion having longitudinal and lateral slots, a substantially straight blade disposed in the longitudinal slot and projecting at one end therefrom to act as a plug blade, a spring finger at the other end of the blade and disposed in the slot to receive a plug blade, a bi-metallic thermostatic bar insulatingly connected at one end tothe blade and adapted to closely overlie the same cooperating contacts on the bar and the blade, a heater co1l on the bar connected at one end to the bar and at the other end to the blade and arms ex tending from the blade into the lateral slots to (prevent displacement of the blades in the b0 y portion.

8. A connector comprising a substantially straight'blade adapted at one end to act as a, plugblade,a sprmg finger at the other end of the'bla'de to' receive, a plug blade, a bimetallic thermostatic har 1nsulating1y connected at one end to the blade and adapted to closely overlie the same, coo crating contacts on the bar and the blade, 9. eater coil on the lOU bar connected at one end to the bar and at the ada ted to cause engagement of the contacts other end to the blade, a 'lurality of arms exto short-circuit the coil. 7 a 15 tending laterall from t e blade, said spring 10. A connector comprising a substantially finger connecte to the bar and the'arms constraight blade, a pluralityof detachable 5 ductively connected to the blade spring fingers disposed at one'end thereof, a

9; A connector comprising a substantially thermostatic bar insulatingly supported .on

straight blade having a contact member. at the blade and in conductive contact with cer-- 20 each end, a bi-metallic thermostatic bar closetain of said fingers, the others of said fin ers ly overlying and insulatin 1y fastened at one being in conductive contact with the blade.

10 end to said blade, cooperating contacts on the Signed at New York in the county of New blade and bar, a heater coil on the bar hav- York, and State of New York, this 15th day ing one end connected to the blade and the of March, A. D. 1926. 1 other end to the bar, said bar when heated RANDOLPH M. MANN. 

